Royal Mail announced fresh postal disruptions affecting residents in Birmingham, Barry, Deeside and Leatherhead, with the company warning that deliveries to these areas will face delays.
The postal service confirmed on Thursday that while its air and road network functioned normally over the preceding 24 hours, several local delivery offices were experiencing problems.
In a statement, the company said: “”In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factor.”
Furthermore, Royal Mail apologised for any inconvenience caused and explained it would rotate deliveries to reduce the impact on individual customers.
More postcodes have been impacted by Royal Mail delivery delays
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These latest disruptions come against a backdrop of sustained criticism regarding Royal Mail’s delivery record with dozens of areas being impacted by delays.
Owner Daniel Kretinsky addressed MPs on the Commons Business select committee just last week, expressing regret over the service’s shortcomings.
Speaking to MPs, Mr Kretinsky said: “Of course I am deeply sorry for any letters that arrive late. It is not perfect, but it is not catastrophic.”
The postal operator has faced mounting pressure over its reliability, with customers increasingly vocal about letters and parcels failing to arrive when expected.
Britons may see a change to Royal Mail delivery services in the near future | GETTY
Last October, Royal Mail received a substantial financial penalty, with regulators imposing a £21million fine on the company.
The sanction was levied after the postal service failed to achieve its required delivery targets for both First and Second Class mail during the preceding financial year.
Customers face another blow from Monday, when stamp prices will rise significantly. First Class stamps will cost £1.80 from 6 April, while Second Class postage increases to 91p.
The price hike marks a dramatic increase from 2020, when a First Class stamp cost just 76p. Royal Mail has attributed the rises to escalating delivery expenses combined with falling letter volumes and an expanding network of addresses.
Stamp prices are on the rise
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PARichard Travers, the company’s managing director of letters, stated: “On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70 per cent fewer letters sent than 20 years ago.”
Recent data suggests the postal service now delivers to 32 million addresses nationwide, four million more than previously.
Here is a full list of the postcodes impacted by Royal Mail delivery delays:
- Banbury DO (OX15 – OX17)
- Barry DO (CF62, CF63)
- Birmingham East DO (B8 – B10)
- Deeside DO (CH5)
- Dursley DO (GL11 – GL13)
- Erskine DO (PA7, PA8)
- Hockley DO (SS5)
- Leatherhead DO (KT21 – KT24)
- New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)
- Petersfield DO (GU31 – GU33)
- Pontyclun DO (CF72)
- Prenton DO (CH43)
- Yate DO (BS37).